#trying to make mosquitos extinct type of guy

[sinistersundown]

: D YESS YES YES EXACTLY!!!!!!!!! I was thinking of the heartless in the realm of light as parasites I’m happy that it came across right!! The monoculture lawn is a such great analogy you’re so right, I didn’t think of dandelions that’s so good!!!!!! and imagining the MoM to be a Lawn Guy is very funny.

whenever you want to share them i would LOVE to hear any/all of your thoughts about the ecology of the realm of darkness :o !!!

YAYYYYYYY yayy ok!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so, it’s hard to conceptualise how everything exists in relation to eachother as the games present it, they’re vibe based, so if I think about things too long it’s pretty surreal as it’s shown. I dont think this is a bad thing to be clear, obviously not everything needs to be speculative biology. I just like to fill in how details work from the perspective of someone who lives there

I’m going to start with some things relating to the realm of light and how it connects with the realm of darkness

worlds falling to darkness is a necessary dormancy period kind of like winter or sleep. The frequency of this depends on the individual world

The sleeping world stare is a protective mechanism, hibernation to preserve itself and the organisms that live on it. keyblade wielders don’t always need to wake them up and doing so too early is bad in the long run, worlds don’t get to sleep that often they need their rest

I don’t know how much you know about 4 dimensional space, i definitely barely understand it, but I’ve found that explaining how the realms of light and darkness relate using this makes the most sense to me. 4 dimensional space adds another coordinate axis, so, the realm of light connects to the realm of darkness in that direction.

and worlds exist at various,- depths isn’t the right word, I think ana and kata is often used to describe the additional axis as something like up and down, in that order, but it’s hard to use those properly in a sentence- they are at different places along that additional axis and slowly “rise and fall” over time like tides or waves. they don’t exclusively move in this direction they float around all over the place

artificially introducing a bunch of darkness to a world will cause it to “sink”

the realm of darkness mirrors the realm of light before it broke into seperate worlds. the movement of the worlds is copied by the realm of darkness, so things are always shifting about. the closer a world is to the realm of darkness the more its details reflect on that area of the realm of darkness. when a world falls to darkness that spot is where it sits.

the exchange of resources that is the result of this is vital for everything to function and is really the only way for things to move between worlds aside from keyblade wielders (they aren’t the only people who can travel between worlds obviously but it’s a lot harder otherwise) the swarms of heartless get nutrients from a fallen world and then die somewhere else eventually. It’s totally possible for a world to go to sleep the wake up with a new species of flower showing up because its seeds got stuck to some heartless that carried it over

I can’t remember if it’s established what heartless eat actually, I do think they have a variety of food sources, they don’t all have mouths but the ones that do could probably get something out of meat or berries or whatever. Probably varies between types

they don’t hunt eachother so much as they-do you know those browser games where you play as a circle that eats smaller circles to become a bigger circle, they’re like that. like darkness is a lot like water I think it likes to stick to itself. so if a heartless absorbed a smaller heartless it’d be like, if you think of a heartless as a bunch of small particles and each particle stores one bit of that heartless’ memories, personality etc, then it’s consumed by a bigger heartless it’s like two cups of water being poured together but there’s no distinction between them, if you took a bit of water out of it then that isn’t the same as either of the cups of water you started with. Does this make sense i have no idea

But yeah worlds falling to darkness is like The major event “down” there, it follows a similar pattern to like a whale fall or when fish form massive shoals or migrate through in area

this ended up less ecology focused but everything effects everything, hopefully it all makes sense. The main take away is that keyblade wielders are cleaner wrasse which I will need to elaborate on another tjme. I’ve got more on this topic too but I’m out of energy and feel bad for taking a few days to answer. I really appreciate the ask it’s very fun to think about these things : D !!!

[drferox]

20 questions with Dr Ferox #2

 Greetings Vetlings! Ready for a second round of 20 questions (and answers) as I work through my inbox? If you’re not sitting comfortably, doing so now would be a good idea. these are in no particular order. If you’ve asked on anonymous, see if you’ve been answered below.

@sckoviaaccords​ asked: My cat had bladder stones, the dissolvable kind with medicine and proper food fortunately, but she got in the habit of peeing everywhere because it hurt her. The stones are gone, but she's still peeing inside, when she used to use the doggy door. My mom keeps saying that we'll have to get rid of her if she keeps peeing on the carpet. How do I stop her from doing this?             

First make sure the stones are actually gone, and that there are no crystals remaining, or residual pain. Contact your vet about this. Cats may avoid where they used to toilet if they have associated that place with pain. Then consider using litter trays inside, especially if there is a particular spot the cat is already frequently urinating. Different cats may prefer different styles of litter tray, or different types of litter, so use one she prefers (offer her two, then stick with the one she chooses). If she will use a litter tray inside, you can then slowly move it a foot or so each week closer to a more appropriate location. As a cheap trick you can also put down tin foil (aluminium foil) where she is urinating. You can also make decoy food plated by gluing some dry food to a paper plate, adding some loose food and leaving them where the cat is urinating. Most cats only urinate where they can get food, but this may only deflect her to another inappropriate location on its own.

@in-a-drought-lioness asked: What kind of bladder stones are there? I've heard there are up to 6 different types? I answered the last question tax but I think there was an old one about pokemon? I would say you remind me of Tauros, because in the latest game they seem to be protector pokemon and you are a protector of animals.

There can be several different types, and it’s not impossible to get a mix of two. the most common ones are struvite and calcium oxalate. Urate, cystine, calcium phosphate, sillicate or drug residue stones/crystals (looking at you trimethoprim sulphonamides!) can also occur, but are less common. 

@rarmeowz​ asked: Do lungworms cause any long term damage in cats? My cat was a stray, and when we took her in she had lungworms. She was quickly and successfully treated and has been worm free for over a year, but I'd like to know if there's anything I should look out for, or if her lungs could be potentially damaged somehow

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is the species usually referred to as cat lungworm, though other parasitic worm species exist which live in the lung. They don’t seem to cause long term damage in my experience, though incompletely treated infections can predispose to chronic bronchitis. Affected cats often have an elevated eosinophil count on hematology. This parasite is not always detected with faecal flotation, you often need a Baermann technique.  

@thehollowedangel��� said: Hi! I love your blog and was wondering if you had any other veterinary blogs to recommend? Thank you, hope your doing well!

Confession. I don’t actually...follow...any...veterinary blogs. They are just too reminiscent of work and don’t let my brain switch off and relax. i pop in on some sometimes when I’m in the mood, but don’t want unexpected random rants or clinical pictures popping up on my feed and forcing me to think. I do try to relax in my downtime

One place I do recommend checking out though is Dean Scott’s FunnyVet.com as the cartoons are funny, but very accurate.

Anonymous asked: Do you find that any dog sports are more dangerous to dogs than others? Thank you for the wonderful blog, since I'm curious, do you play D&D currently?

Not particularly if you’re talking about endangering their life. Anything that involved jumping or sudden turns if you’re talking about injuries. But in perspective, more dogs tear their cruciate ligaments around the home than they do at an event. Racing greyhounds are an entirely different topic.

And unfortunately no, I’m not playing D&D at the moment. But I am being involved in a sci-fi podcast.

@mygearsarestartingtotremble​ asked: I started getting curious about heartworm in Australia and if you guys had it and you do! Which surprised me. How big is preventive care in your hospital?             

Why would it surprise you? Lots of things try to kill things down here, and we most certainly have the mosquitoes! Prevention is very big in more northern states, but down here it’s not as big. There is even one local clinic who actively claims other vets that push heartworm prevention are ripping you off! I always advise people that prevention is so easy, and while the risks may be low locally, the consequences of infection can be catastrophic. I suspect it will be more common here with climate change, the disease already seems to be moving south.

Understandably Anonymous asked: (cw: animal death, uh... taxidermy?) When my cat dies, I think I want to keep his pelt (in the least creepy way possible - of course I would get a professional to do it). Is this Too Weird to talk to a vet about, and I should make some vague noises about taking the body home to bury if we ever have to put him down, or are the odds high that my vet has Seen Everything and won't be fazed by That Weirdo Who Wants to Skin Their Cat? I don't anticipate this being relevant soon, he's only 11ish.            

That is certainly a weird one, but not that extra weird. I don’t know whether your vet would be fazed with this knowledge at all, but you are certainly within your rights to take a deceased pet home, usually for burial. Most vets will shave a patch of fur on a leg for catheter placement or intravenous access though, you might have to address this if you’re not okay with that.

@vantastrophe asked: Anything cool happen to you this week? :) Hope you have a good day!             

I had a public holiday last Monday and discovered red velvet ice cream. That’s pretty cool.

@lapras-defense-squad asked: Hello Dr. Ferox :) I was wondering if you could please provide some advice on how to approach vet clinics in order to get a volunteer position. I am an undergraduate with no clinic experience, so I am really nervous about calling. Would asking for a volunteer position immediately (after submitting a resume and cover letter though) be too ambitious? Should I ask to shadow first? Thank you!            

I suspect things work a little differently where you are, but generally in Australia we have students for work experience, which is unpaid. There’s a relevant post here. Asking to shadow before asking for a volunteer position is probably prudent.

Anonymous asked: Have you done anything on harpy or half-human/half-bird biology?

No I have not. I don’t know when I might either, that will depend on my Patreon supporters asking or voting for it.

@a-floral-ghost asked: Is it true that when a dog or cat has an upset stomach it'll eat grass? Or is that just a weird myth

It’s half true. Some dogs and cats will eat grass just because it’s there, at a chewable height, or because they investigate the world with their mouths. Some will chew grass when they feel nauseous. It’s not so much a matter of eating grass makes them vomit, but more they felt like vomiting anyway so ate grass.

Anonymous asked: Could I ask you about cats that have shorter limbs? More specifically, the issues that you commonly see in cat breeds that have shorter limbs (those munchkins cats) and those that "naturally" have a larger torso to limb length ratio". (Question tax: Came for animal facts. Stayed for Sass and "WTH does that happen in Aussie?!") Thanks for taking the time to answer~

I’m not sure what you mean by the ‘natural’ cats, but I’ve written about Munchkin cats here.

Anonymous asked: In your hospital (is a vet's office called a hospital) have you encountered any amazing dog rescues and recoveries? They're just so heartwarming to see

Not much from the dog rescues here, but I was involved with more in Tasmania. My favorite animal sanctuary is Big Ears, and I heartily recommend everyone check them out.

@gram-stained-paws asked: In what dilution do you use salty water for wound flushing?

In the clinic I use sterile saline. For at home I tell people to use a teaspoon of salt to a cup of water (ideally pre-boiled). It’s easy for them to remember that way.

@bi-furiosa said: Hi! I wanted to recommend, if you haven't already seen it, a channel on YouTube called VetRanch. They're a charity of sorts that pull unwanted dogs in need of medical attention from local shelters, help rehabilitate them, and then work to get then adopted. They video the full process, including surgeries. They also frequently feature animals with demodex, and since that's what you're favorite parasite is, I thought you might be interested. Love your blog, and your patience with asks!

I’m sure that will appeal to a lot of people, but it doesn’t appeal to me at all. It’s work, and I get enough of it at work. I don’t need to be watching more veterinary cases, exposed to the compassion fatigue that’s likely to generate, and assess or critique everything that’s done or said. It’s just not going to be relaxing, but that you for thinking of me.

Another Anonymous asked: Okay! You're a vet so you obviously talk about living animals a lot, but if you could chose one extinct species to bring back, which one would it be??

I would have to say thylacine. They’re pretty special to me, unlikely to be a threat to humans, and only went extinct recently so their habitat would probably still support them if they were to be released. It’s also entirely our fault they went extinct, so I feel it’s only fair if we were to bring them back.

Anonymous asked: Kind of a stupid question but is it possible for a lizard to be warm blooded? Also, what is the difference between red and blue blood and can a mammal evolve with blue blood?

Warm and cold blooded are a bit of a misnomer. Ectothermic animals, like reptiles, are dependent on external heat to maintain their body temperature. They can get quite warm! It’s certainly possible for a lizard to evolve endothermic capabilities, if that’s what you’re asking.

The difference between red or blue blood is the metal ion in the oxygen carrying molecule. Mammals have haemoglobin which contains iron, producing the red color. Some insects and molluscs have haemocyanin which contains copper, causing the blue-green color. Haemocyanin is not present in mammals, and if a mammal-like creature did evolve it, I would question whether it truly was a mammal.

Anonymous asked: One of my rats is rather fat, and also blind. This is a problem, because it seems she doesnt use the enrichment i have for the rats as much (especially the wheel) maybe because she is blind? All the rats get is a constantly full bowl of oxbow rat food and occasional treats of plain cheerios and very rarely (maybe once a month) chickpeas. I give two of my rats other, higher calorie treats because they are so active they have problems being too skinny. Is there anything i can do to help my fatrat?

I really don’t see a huge number of rats to be able to offer you advice. If she’s blind she may not be able to use enrichment objects that require movement, but may still be able to enjoy enrichment objects with different textures or smells to explore. There’s bound to be better ratty folks to ask than me though.

@und1ne-prince asked: What/which is your favorite dog and cat breeds?

There are lots of dogs I like, including greyhounds, JRTs, Dobermans, and Swedish Valhunds. For cats it’s the humble moggy.

The last Anonymous said: Wait, what? There are people who think vets should work free? Why? It should be obvious that you're practicing actual medicine, not just randomly pulling diagnoses and treatments out of your ass.

Ah, but they say that if we really cared about animals we’d treat them for free.

[ask-paradox-and-friends]

Garou's turn

Monsters:often referred to as 'Beings of Unknown Origin' or BUO I prefer this as it makes more sense. And easier to remember. They are split into categories based on power.

Wolf Level:these aren't dangerous at all. These don't do much but are only a danger to people that accidentally see it. The only monsters I've seen on this level are the living piggy bank that steals lunch money the Mutated chihuahua that lost its owner and the man loved reptiles so much he became one...huh.

Tiger level:these are a step up and are basically threats to groups of people.. I've only met one. And even then it was like some weird ass domanatrix with the powers to brainwash people to fight for her. Thought there was a...Awakened cockroach...(I can hear Tsugu and her friends scream.)

Demon level:these guys are actual threats to cities and everything in them. They're the most common type where I'm from and aren't much of a threat to me. There was the car monster doctor geniuses monsters like that mosquito girl and the gorilla monsters I met a month ago. The weirdest ones are the internet troll who hated humanity so much they became monsters. What is my life?

Dragon level:the most common level of danger in my world. They are a massive danger as they are capable of ending entire states and countries There's Bug God,Phoenix Man,Black S,Bakuzen and come to think of it a lot of the monster association are dragon level. Odd. Ah well.

Dark matter theives:a group of space priates wandering the galaxy trying to find good battles. Too bad most of them are dead. Shame they seemed cool. But they have interesting ranks. There's the multi headed one the galaxies best physic the acid multi mouthed one. There's also the one that flies the ship but most of their ranks are mooks. Their captain is interesting however.

Monster association:a group of monsters trying to rule the world and make the human race extinct. *sigh* most of the monsters aren't major threats but the higher ups are something. The cat and Phoenix are pains and ugly and gums are jokes but unfortunately rover and water almost put me down the first time and then there's Sperm which is a whole other issue. Wait. Where's Phychos and Ororchi? Uh-oh.

God-infused:this is what happens when you take the monster God's offer to become stronger. You look human but you have lazers and energy attacks on a massive degree. Do these assholes ever feel tired?

Tsukuyomi:a group of scientists and megalomaniacs trying to make artificial espers with physic powers. They almost always have scars on their heads so it seems they do brain surgery to get these powers. They like experimenting on children or anyone the hero association sells to them for top billing...wait...I just passed by a group of heros with face and head stitches...Göll better find a way to get the others here I stepped in it now.

Machine gods:a group of super powered robots trying to rule the world and declare robot and cyborg Supremacy. (What is with people? Like goddamn get a hobby.) I managed to find a way to get the ACHS to aquire the dead robots and their allies to get the espers. Wait. These things look like Drive Kight and Machine Knight....is it too late to call a CODE RED?

Sub-boss Phykorochi: so this is what happens when those two merge. Well she's a lot stronger and far more dangerous. Orochi's ability to adapt and grow in power with Phyko's smarts and esper powers. Man am I glad I learned ninjitsu and got that quirk (note to self get the others thank you gifts.)

Boss Lord Boros:the leader and captain of the dark matter theives someone imprisoned him and he broke out. As a god level threat he's a danger to all of humanity. He seems to have lasers healing and a second form. Shit the scanner just told me he has Cellular regeneration...great I have to deal with Paradox level regen...I'll need help!

Now that I finished the little in realm conversions with Goll kow I have a new idea!

Journal entries of monsters and enemies in their realms! In order of time periods!

@hazawatsugu

@splatoonfan88

Question is...how do they see the world around them?